Article carrying case



Nov. 29, 1 960 L. H. MORRIS ARTICLE CARRYING CASE INVENTOR.

lawmw Filed NOV. 21, 1958 ATTVS.

United States Patent ARTICLE CARRYING CASE Lowell H. Morris, Dixon, Calif., assignor to Morris Manufacturing Company, Dixon, Calif, a partnership Filed Nov. 21, 1958, Ser. N 0. 775,606

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-60) This invention relates to, and it is a major object to provide, an article carrying case of novel construction;

-the case being especially designed-but not limited-for the reception of a sectional, knocked down-fishing rod. The case is also usefulfor exampleto carry rolled articles, such as maps, charts, prints, or drawings.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an article carrying case which comprises a rigid elongated tube, and removable, substantially cup-shaped capsof flexible and resilient material-frictio-nally engaged on the ends of the tube.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an article carrying case, as in the preceding paragraph, wherein the closure caps are of novel form, each including an internal groove adjacent the closed end of the cap, with an endless, radially outwardly projecting bead on the adjacent end of the tube seating in said groove when the cap is in place; the capin addition-tapering internally from adjacent the groove to the open end of said cap, whereby the latter extends from such bead into contact with the tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article carrying case, of the type described, wherein the caps serve not only as closure members for the ends 'of the tube, but also as bumpers, which prevent damage to articles in the case, and which may shift lengthwise therein, and also protect the ends of the case in the event that the same is dropped endwise against a hard object, such as a floor.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an article carrying case which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture, and convenience of use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable and durable, light-weight, article carrying case, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the article carrying case with the closure caps in place thereon; the case being shown with a sectional, knocked-down fishing rod therein. The case is shown in full lines, and the fishing rod sections in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the article carrying case, foreshortened.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the article carrying case, foreshortened, and showing the manner in which the skirt of one cap is manually outwardly deformed or expanded preparatory to removing said cap.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, but shows the cap detached from the adjacent tube end.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the arti- 2,962,187 Patented Nov. 29, 1960 cle carrying case comprises an elongated metallic tube 1 preferably of light-weight metal, such as aluminum.

At each end the tube 1 is provided with a peripheral or endless, radially outwardly projecting, rolled bead 2 which not only strengthens the tube end but provides an element for cooperative engagement in the related cap, as will hereinafter appear; each end of the tube being provided with a closure cap, indicated generally at 3.

Each closure cap 3 is substantially cup-shaped, and is of a flexible and resilient material, such as rubber. Each cap comprises a circular end wall or disc 4, and an annular skirt 5. Within the cap and adjacent the end wall 4 said cap is provided with an annular internal groove 6. Between the groove 6 and the outer or open end of each cap 3 the annular skirt 5 is tapered; i.e., the inside face 7 of said skirt 5 decreases in inside diameter from the groove 6 to the open end of the cap.

The normal inside diameter of the annular skirt 5 is less than the outside diameter of the peripheral or endless bead 2. By reason of this feature each end cap 3, as it is manually engaged on the adjacent end portion of the tube 1, progressively expands as it is passed over the bead Z and until such bead relatively snap-engages in the groove 6. When this occurs, the annular skirt 5-between such groove 6 and the outer or open end of the capcontracts and extends, by reason of the taper, longitudinally inwardly to a circumferential line of contact with said tube, as at 8.

In this manner each cap 3 is effectively and positively frictionally engaged on the related end portion of the tube to provide an effective closure therefor, and to retain the articles-such as fishing rod sections 9in said tube.

At least one of the closure caps 3 is formed with a central, axial vent opening 10 whose purpose is to prevent any condensation within the tube 1 when both caps are in place thereon.

Each cap 3 is formed on the outside of the circular end wall or disc 4 with a plurality of concentric, outwardly projecting ribs 11, which are for the purpose not only of ornamentation but also as wear-resisting elements.

In order to remove either of the closure caps 3, the annular skirt 5at one point in its circumference-is finger-engaged and deformed outwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 3, and there after such cap can be readily removed by peeling it from the tube 1 and the related bead 2.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

An article carrying case comprising a rigid elongated tube closed at one end and having a radially outwardly projecting bead of substantially full-circle form in section on the other end, and a cap of flexible and elastic material for such other end comprising a disc and an annular skirt depending therefrom; the skirt at its junction with the disc having an internal diameter less than the outside diameter of the head but appreciably greater than the outside diameter of the tube and said diameter constantly decreasing to the outer end of the skirt to a size not greater than the outside diameter of the tube; the skirt at its junction with the disc having an internal circumferential groove to fit overthe outermost portion of the bead.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS" Sampson Oct. 3, 1922 i 1 I i l i I I 1 

